Picking a Topic is Research

Summary

This video from the University of Houston Libraries explains how to choose and refine a research topic. It emphasizes that research is not a linear process, but an iterative one where selecting a topic, finding sources, and writing are interconnected. The video encourages exploratory research to refine and adjust topics, offering an example of how a narrow topic like 'The Bachelor' and a broad one like 'Reality TV' can be refined into a manageable focus. The key takeaway is the importance of flexibility and ongoing exploration in the research process.

Takeaways

• 📚 Choosing a research topic is an iterative process intertwined with finding sources, reading, and writing.
• 📝 Your initial topic idea isn't fixed; exploratory research helps refine and tweak it.
• 🔍 Exploratory research can lead to new directions, questions, or even a new topic altogether.
• ✨ The goal is to find a topic that is interesting, academically engaging, and manageable.
• 🛠 During research and writing, it's okay to return to researching for additional information.
• 🔄 Research and writing follow a circular process, not a straight-line path.
• 📺 Narrow topics, like researching a single TV show, may not yield enough scholarly sources.
• ⚖️ Broad topics, like reality TV in general, can overwhelm with too much unrelated information.
• 💡 Finding a balanced, manageable topic is key—like focusing on a sub-genre of reality TV.
• 📖 Allow time for exploring and refining your topic to ensure it's researchable and interesting.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video focuses on the process of choosing a research topic for a paper, emphasizing that it involves exploratory research, refining the topic, and iterating between research, writing, and editing.

Why is choosing a research topic described as an iterative process?

Choosing a research topic is iterative because it often requires refining and tweaking the topic based on exploratory research, findings, and the need to continuously adjust during the writing and editing stages.

What is exploratory research, according to the script?

Exploratory research is the initial process of gathering information to learn more about a chosen topic, refine the scope of the research, and determine whether there are enough sources available for a meaningful and academically engaging paper.

How can exploratory research help refine a research topic?

Exploratory research helps refine a research topic by allowing the researcher to test the topic, broaden or narrow its scope based on available sources, and ensure the topic is academically engaging and researchable.

What is an example of an overly narrow topic mentioned in the video?

An example of an overly narrow topic mentioned in the video is the reality TV show 'The Bachelor,' which lacks sufficient scholarly research.

What is an example of an overly broad topic provided in the video?

An example of an overly broad topic is 'reality TV in general,' which results in an overwhelming amount of unrelated research that makes forming a coherent thesis difficult.

How does the video suggest finding a balance between a too narrow and too broad research topic?

The video suggests finding a balance by tweaking the topic's scope to focus on a more manageable sub-genre, like 'dating and reality TV,' which offers a sufficient but not overwhelming amount of research material.

Why is it important to adjust a research topic early in the process?

It is important to adjust a research topic early to avoid realizing too late that the topic is unresearchable or too broad, which could lead to difficulties in writing a coherent paper.

What are the benefits of refining a research topic through exploratory research?

Refining a research topic through exploratory research ensures that the topic remains interesting, manageable, academically engaging, and supported by enough credible sources to complete the research assignment effectively.

What resources does the video suggest using for exploratory research?

The video suggests using internet searches and library research databases to test and refine potential research topics.